Memorial services for Melvin Stewart Hovland of Hollandale will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. The Rev. Richard Spande will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery at a later date.

Melvin died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at St John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. He was 88 years old.

Melvin was born Feb. 25, 1926, in New Mexico, the son of Elmer and Ruth (Ramsay) Hovland. He attended public school in Lake Mills. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he was united in marriage to Shirley Stanley on Sept. 3, 1950, in Albert Lea.

Melvin had been employed for many years at the Wilson Co. in Albert Lea. After retirement he enjoyed motorcycles and took many trips to Sturgis, South Dakota, and was an active member of the Albert Lea Gun Club where he won many trophies at shooting events. He loved to rebuild and modify handguns, was a lifetime member of the NRA and even helped his brother build and fly an airplane.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Albert Lea; children Gary Hovland of Albert Lea, Patti and her husband Jim Howe of Prior Lake, Douglas and his wife Brenda Hovland of Lisbon, Connecticut, and Sheila and her husband Kevin Hansen of Clarks Grove. Grandchildren include Zachary, Daniel, Shelby, Kara and Conner. Great grandchildren include Aryah, Jaxon, LettieMarie and Liam. Siblings surviving are Johnny (Marilyn), Galen, Ralph, Petra, Marie and Bonnie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Roy Gunderson; granddaughter, Celina Hovland; and mother- and father-in-law Jr. and Ethel Stanley.